Al Franken will resign amid allegations of sexual misconduct

WASHINGTON — Sen. Al Franken said Thursday that he will resign "in the coming weeks" from his seat in the U.S. Senate amid growing calls for him to step down after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.

$1M+ endorsed for companies planning to create 121 new jobs

A two-story interior section of the Third Street Dayton Arcade. The city of Dayton Friday pulled a request for $1 million in Montgomery County ED/GE funding to redevelop the arcade — but another funding request is expected in the spring. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

— Plans by a Canadian company to build its North American headquarters in Vandalia, creating 35 new jobs, emerged as a clear favorite Friday among a committee of Montgomery County officials weighing requests for public funds.

In total, all the development projects the committee considered are expected to create 121 new jobs while protecting 709 existing jobs.

The committee decided which projects they would like to see funded and by how much. The next step is a vote by the County Commission, which usually approves the recommendations.

Eight local communities asked for more than $1.42 million to boost business moves within or to those communities. One problem: The county only had only a little over $1 million to offer in what the county calls the “ED/GE” (Economic Development/Government Equity) program.

But when the city of Dayton withdrew its request for $1 million to support the remaking of its historical downtown arcade, the landscape immediately changed.

Other ED/GE projects approved Friday, and the amounts those companies are slated to receive include:

N12Technologies Inc. was recommended to get $50,000 in a project that would create 10 jobs in Kettering. Also in Kettering, Northwestern Tools was recommended for $80,000 for a project that is expected to create 12 jobs and protect 25 current jobs.

The city of Centerville asked for $250,000 for Aeroseal, to create an expected 19 new jobs at the former Planet Ford dealership site on East Alex-Bell Road. The committee recommended $170,000.

In Huber Heights, the committee recommended $80,000 for Trimble, which wants to build a new workspace to facilitate testing and demonstration of products when the weather is poor.

Staco Energy Corp. was recommended for $150,000 for a $7 million project would create four new jobs and retain 62 existing ones.

A new Misumi USA distribution center in West Carrollton tied to Dayton Progress was recommended for $150,000. That project is expected to create 20 new jobs.

And in Harrison Twp., $75,000 was recommended for Staub Manufacturing Solutions, which wants to create six new jobs while retaining 28 current ones.

Since 2012, ED/GE-funded projects have created 4,718 new local jobs total — above the 2,058 jobs those employers had originally pledged — and retained 2,931 existing jobs, Collins said.

In that time, $6 million in ED/GE funding has resulted in $452 million in private investment in the Dayton area, he said.

3 dead, including attacker, in New Mexico high school shooting, authorities say

AZTEC, N.M. — Authorities said three people died Thursday morning during a shooting at a New Mexico high school, including the person who first opened fire at the school, according to multiple reports.

Dayton citizens ask ALDI to reconsider closing West Dayton store

Dayton officials announced that ALDI plans to shutter the Westown store.

DAYTON — Some community members are asking ALDI representatives to reconsider closing the West Dayton location, which they say would exacerbate an already troubling lack of access to fresh and healthy food items in the area.

Jamica Garrison, co-founder and board member of the community group Neighborhoods Over Politics, is encouraging community members write ALDI to ask company officials to rethink plans to shutter its store at 4303 W. Third St. in the Westown Shopping Center.

Garrison and others say many people who live in West Dayton and patronize ALDI do not have other options nearby to get buy reasonably priced and healthy food products.

Garrison said she believes it is not too late for ALDI to change course.

“I’m a person of great faith and I believe that God changes the heart of man,” she said. “So I believe it’s not over until it’s over — until we see the ‘closed’ sign on the door, there’s still hope.”

ALDI representatives indicated that foot traffic was down, Whaley said, but the shopping center is 100 percent occupied and its owners say its customer base has been steady.

“To make the decision and just close with no communication to the community doesn’t show that they are good community partners,” Whaley said.

Residents who have vehicles will be able to drive to Kroger on West Siebenthaler Avenue, about 4 miles north of the shopping center, or other stores in the Dayton area, said Garrison, who regularly shops at the Westown location.

But residents who walk or ride the bus to ALDI will be hard pressed to find a replacement, she said.

Garrison said if ALDI representatives will not reconsider staying open, hopefully at very least company officials will give the community an explanation for why they are shutting down what to many people is an important business.

She urges community members to contact ALDI and express their support for keeping the business open.

If ALDI decides to leave, the city of Dayton and Westown hopefully will work with the community to find a suitable replacement for the business — not a retailer or grocer of lesser quality and products that does not offer fresh produce and other nutritional items, Garrison said.

“My hope is before a decision is made they have a townhall with residents to find out what they want,” she said.

Nathan Karn, who works at Westown center, said many ALDI customers come by bus to shop, and now they will have to travel much farther for groceries and will have to transport them much farther distances.

“It’s going to be devastating, especially because we have a lot of senior citizens come this way by bus,” he said.

Crystal Nash, 34, who lives on the west side, said she visits ALDI daily to buy food and meals .

She said ALDI is 15 minutes from her home by bus, which is really convenient, and she doesn’t know where she get groceries if it closes.

She may not be able to shop as frequently, which could make her trips more of a hassle.

“With me riding the bus, it may be more difficult because I would have to catch a cab if I were to get a whole lot of groceries,” she said.

Gloria Landis, 79, who lives outside Trotwood, says she has shopped at ALDI in the Westown center at least once a week for many years, dating back to its opening.

The store is a roughly 7-minute drive from her home.

Landis expects to patronize ALDI’s Englewood location because she likes the chain’s products and prices.

But, Landis said, the Westown ALDI serves a lower-income population and patrons who lack transportation may have a difficult time finding another place to get fresh produce and meats.